Lianth is able to look under the horse and note that the skeleton is indeed human and rather old.
"What's the verdict? We looking at skeletons, dead or undead?"
Alizar moves up to sight the scenario better.
"There is something wothin those saddlebags." Alizar points to the saddlebag.
"So ancient bones, that sounds foreboding. This is the place though, that seal in the center, that flame, indicates this place as where Ekat Kassen, the towns namesake, is held. That battle with Vargas, both killing each other. Its the common story, heard of the double kill a few times, interested to see who actually did one.
The contents of the bag are rather odd. Within are two days worth of rations. A couple rather large and comfortable looking pillows, a quiver of ten arrows that seem to be blunted and 2 pints of lamp oil.
I'm interested in continuing, life happens.
I'm here
Alright, well, it's your call at this point. Presently you're all standing outside the Crypt unless you're waiting for something from me that I'm unaware of.
For once , Annwyllia speaks
"While, so far , the way the council has organized this quest has not been so good , I doubt they would go as far as wantonly killing good horses ... "
"If you wish to scout the way Lianth, using your nature magics, we could use that knowledge as an escape plan. I would appreciate it, if that means something to you; I know not the ways of the lake witches."
"There is one choice, to continue on, braving whatever lies within a dust filled and ominous crypt.....with dead horses and old skeletons.....to find a flame that may or may not be there and possible protectors we know nothing of."
"What harm could come of that?"
Anwyllia seems rather bemused at Alizar's speech.
"Attack was two days ago. Rather doubtful there is survivors inside. Might be, people left on foot, I'll try to track . Flame is not important anymore"
With this, she begin to move up the chasm trying to spot tracks
Survival check
You find no tracks leaving, not surprising seeing as the attack is a couple days old, it does look like there was plenty of activity going into and out of the crypt however. As for the presence of the horses, simple logic deduces that, your quest is supposed to only take a couple days, anyone else coming here would be under no such restrictions. So rather than climb up and down a steep cliff they could have simply taken an extra day or so to go around rather than take the direct route. As for the flame, the Quest for the Everflame has been going on for longer than most of your parents have been alive, so chances are high that it still burns within the crypt.
Many camped there . I would need to move up the ravine to better see .
"Let's explore this lovely place, joy.....I suppose I will lead, unless another can read the earth and find information through non visual means."
Listen check at door/entrance to cave
Alizar heard nothing from within the crypt. Everything seemed to point to the crypt of course, whoever owned the horses had spent much time around the entrance likely going in and out of the crypt. Whatever attacked the horses didn't seem to come from anywhere outside of the area, which oddly enough meant further answers would be found... inside the crypt.
" Read the earth ? "
"You know, nature magic? Druids and others can replicate that."
As usual , I don't understand one word in two when you are speaking ...
alizar listens at the door
If not threats heard, search check on the door for traps and the like
If all clear, Alizar signals to the rest it is clear, and looks inside, moving cautiously within.
The doors are unlocked but heavy. With a bit of effort they are opened...
As the heavy doors swing open, the faint light from outside reveals a long chamber with risen platforms on either side. A faded painting of Kassen is on the far wall. The room appears to be the site of a gruesome battle, with two bodies piled in the center and a number of skeletons scattered around. An echoing wail can be heard somewhere in the distance, beyond this foul chamber.
spot on battle area, weaponry, living ppl, etc
what do we see of the corpses equipment from the entrance ?
The two corpses are badly mauled and appear to have been unarmed though apparently put up a decent fight. The skeletons seem to be clad in shoddy chain shirts and wield scimitars that are hardly serviceable.
The bodies look to be those of Gerol and Vark, two friends of the mayor who, while not being warriors, were rather burly hard working types.
know (local)
"Those were Gerol and Vark, mayor's friends. He may want to know, the human mind is different."
I suppose I will lead the way.
Celestial
Senmont finds he may get his wish as the group enters the crypt proper. By the time Alizar reaches the center of the room there's a strange scraping and clacking sound, only a moment later the skeletons arise almost as one and seem ready to inflict harm upon yourselves as they apparently did to the poor dead folk in the room!
initiative
Going before enemies-move down 2 squares, right 3 squares (move). Draw composite longbow (part of move), drop dagger (free)
Going after enemies-tumble down 1 square, diagonally right 1, and right 1 (move). Draw my composite longbow (part of move), dropping dagger (free)
tumble
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Lianth orders Roarke to attack the skeleton to the right of Alizer, only to discover that standard animal training does not suffice to get an animal to attack something as unnatural as an undead, forcing her to reinforce her command.
Roarke refuses, and remains at her side, growling. He'll defend her if she's attacked, but refuses to approach the unnatural creatures.
She limbers up her bow and fires a single arrow at the same skeleton (to the right of Alizer), hoping to get the arrow off before the skeleton is in melee.
Initiative
Anwyllia moves back 30 feet and then fires at the nearest skeleton
Alizar moves back and quickly puts himself in a corner where he can ready his bow. Meanwhile Senmont moves to the nearest skeleton and attempts to engage the creature in combat but his attack goes wide. Lianth attempts to get Rourke to attack the undead menace but the wolf has none of it preferring, instead, to stay and guard his mistress. Meanwhile she takes aim and fires at one of the skeletons but misses it entirely. Anwyllia considers moving back but spying the stairs and knows she won't get a clear shot so she instead moves closer to Alizar and fires her bow at the nearest skeleton to the two ranged combatants, missing.
The skeletons move forward, old bones attempting to remember the rules of battle as they wield their claws and broken blades in an attempt to strike down the living. Senmont finds himself surrounded, thankfully his armor and his buckler as well as his warriors reflexes are more than capable of fending off their foes. Alizar is not so lucky as the nearby skeleton advances and strikes the elf, the jagged broken blade cutting through his defenses and into his flesh.
From up the stairs comes a familiar dwarven shout "What in the hells be goin' on down there?" comes the concerned shout of the priest of Torag. "I can't see a blasted thing from up here!"
Round 1 Summary:
Alizar moves to a safer location drops his dagger and readies his bow.
Senmont takes a 5ft step to his left and attacks the nearest skeleton missing.
Lianth fires at
Anwyllia is unable to move back without losing her line of sight on the foes as she would have to climb stairs. Unless there is objection she takes a 5ft step to her right and fires at the skeleton nearest her and Alizar. I'll say this allows Rourke to take up a defensive position in front of Lianth and holding his action. Please discuss objections in the google groups or in the discussion thread, I will be checking both today and monday.
Skeleton 1 vs. Senmont: Miss.
Skeleton 2 vs. Senmont:
Skeleton 3 vs. Senmont:
Skeleton 6 vs. Alizar: hit with scimitar for 4 damage.
The remaining skeletons move forward but have yet to engage.
Round 2 Map
Round 2 Initiative:
Alizar (4/9): 21
Senmont (13/13): 14
Lianth (10/10): 11
Anwyllia (12/12): 10
Skeletions x6: 9
I think your hp should be 12, if you're a ranger then your HD is a d10 and you get max HP at 1st level.
Anwyllia takes a five foot step to the right and fires at the skeleton nearest her
Rapid Shot Ranged in Melee :
Anwyllia is staying in place then
Tumble left 3 squares
Fire bow at skeleton 5, over Roarke, sharing space with Lianth